Authorities in Johannesburg conducted a multi-departmental operation in the Sandton suburb targeting properties for alleged illegal occupation and immigration violations, which led to more than 10 arrests. The action, involving city officials and law enforcement agencies, included inspections of several locations, with a focus on a property at 41B Adrien Street.
Speaking to the media during the operation, Johannesburg’s Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Transport, Kenny Kunene, confirmed the details of the enforcement activity. According to reports from IOL and New Zimbabwe, Kunene stated that the operation was a coordinated effort aimed at addressing contraventions of city bylaws and national immigration laws.
The primary objective cited by officials was to investigate properties suspected of being unlawfully occupied. This involves situations where individuals inhabit a building without legal title or permission from the owner. The scope of the operation also included verifying the legal status of foreign nationals residing at the inspected properties.
During the enforcement action, law enforcement officials took more than 10 individuals into custody. Reports from news outlets indicated that those arrested included nationals from Zimbabwe and Malawi.
Officials have stated that the operation in Sandton is part of a wider municipal strategy to enforce compliance with property and immigration regulations across the city. The individuals who were arrested are expected to be processed to determine their immigration status, while investigations into the ownership and management of the targeted properties are ongoing. City departments involved have not yet released a detailed breakdown of the charges or the next steps for those detained.
